Ces radiol. 2008, 62(2):189-192

Early stadia of rheumatoid artritis: prospective study evaluating the impact of magnetic resonance imaging according to the diagnosis and prediction of further development of the diseaseOriginal article

Zdeněk Seidl^1-2, Manuela Vaněčková¹, Jindřiška Gatterová³, Karel Pavelka³, Dana Pegzová³, Liliana Šedová³

¹ Radiodiagnostická klinika 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

² Vysoká škola zdravotnická, Praha

³ Revmatologický ústav 1. LF UK, Praha

Aim: Early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, elaboration of optimal MRI protocol and prediction of further development of the disease.

Method: In the course of three years we followed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which had no abnormal findings at the X-ray examination. For the purpose of assessing the morphological changes in the MRI we used Rheumatoid Arthritis Scoring System (RAMRIS), where the changes are assessed with the help of atlas, which is the result of international work Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT).

Results: In the first year of study, with the help of MRI, we detected destructive changes in 5 patients having no findings at the X-ray examination. Contrary to this, in the third year, we observed normal findings in MRI for 2 patients, but at the X-ray examination the destructive changes were found.

Conclusion: MRI and X-ray are mutually complementary and increase the sensitivity of imaging of the destructive changes in patients with RA.

Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging, rheumatoid athritis, bone erosion

Grants and funding:

Práce vznikla za podpory výzkumného záměru MZO/00064165, MSMOO21620849 a grantu NR 8454-3.

Accepted: January 20, 2008; Published: June 1, 2008  Show citation